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Founded in 1932, Journal of Animal Ecology publishes original
research papers on all aspects of animal ecology; specifically those that make
substantial contributions to our understanding of animal ecology as well as
offering insights into issues of general interest to ecologists. This includes
reviews that shed light on subjects central to animal ecology, including theoretical
analyses of specific topics. The Journal publishes standard papers, essay reviews,
forum pieces and In Focus articles (by invitation). The journal is published
six times a year. Further details are available at www.journalofanimalecology.org.
JSTOR provides a digital archive of the print version of The Journal
of Animal Ecology. The electronic version of The Journal of Animal
Ecology is available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117960113/home.
Authorised users may be able to access the full text articles at this site.

The "moving wall" represents the time period between the last issue
available in JSTOR and the most recently published issue of a journal.
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publisher has elected to have a "zero" moving wall, so their current
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Terms Related to the Moving Wall

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Absorbed: Journals that are combined with another title.

Complete: Journals that are no longer published or that have been
combined with another title.

Abstract

1. The population of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the South Pacific is divided into at least five sympatric vocal clans that almost certainly reflect cultural variation. 2. We investigated differences in movements and feeding success of groups from different clans off the Galápagos Islands and northern Chile, using data from 87 days spent tracking groups of known clan. 3. Groups from different clans showed different use of habitat and movement patterns. Off the Galápagos Islands, 'Plus-one' clan groups moved in relatively straight lines while 'Regular' clan groups had more convoluted tracks and a more inshore distribution, patterns which were consistent across years. 4. Groups from different clans had different defecation rates, indicating between-clan variation in feeding success. Off the Galápagos Islands, 'Plus-one' clan groups were more successful in the depauperate ENSO ('El Niño/Southern Oscillation') conditions of 1987. However, in the cooler conditions of 1989, groups of the 'Regular' clan had much higher feeding success than those of the 'Plus-one' clan. 5. Thus we suggest that cultural inheritance in sperm whales incorporates foraging strategy as well as vocal patterns, and that clan membership has fitness consequences. 6. That clans seem differentially affected by altered climate conditions has implications for the effects of global warming on sperm whales. 7. The results also support the hypothesis that culturally determined differences in fitness may have affected genetic evolution through the process of cultural hitchhiking.